From attending World Youth Day to organizing it: one priest's surprising journey

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:40 pm by Deacon Greg Kandra

From attending World Youth Day to organizing it: one priest's surprising journey 2016-09-30T17:40:12-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

As plans ramp up for this month’s World Youth Day in Madrid, L’Osservatore Romano interviews the newly appointed monsignor in charge — and finds he’s no stranger to the event.

Details:

When in August, 1989 he found himself immersed in a sea of young people rhythmically chanting their love for John Paul II during the World Youth Day in Santiago de Compostela, twenty-six year old Miguel Delgado Galindo – with a brilliant legal career in front of him– never could have imagined that one day he would be on the other side of the stage, amongst the officials of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, as undersecretary. On June 18, Benedict XVI promoted the Catalan priest from office manager of the dicastery, where he had been responsible for the section of associations and movements. In this interview, he talks to us about his new role.

What was your reaction to the news of your nomination by Benedict XVI, only two months before the beginning of WYD in Madrid?

It was a normal change for this role, given the fact that Professor Guzman M. Carriquiry was nominated to Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in May. It is only a happy coincidence that my nomination coincides with the upcoming World Youth Day in Madrid. When I learned that the Holy Father wanted to entrust the job to me, I felt a great sense of gratitude for his faith in me, which I hope to be worthy of, as well as a sense of gratitude towards my superiors at the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Now, a young person from the World Youth Day in Santiago di Compostela will go to Madrid to participate at the second WYD in Spain, but this time in a role that he could never have imagined twenty-two years ago, when he met John Paul II on the Monte del Gozo with thousands of young people from all over the world.

A young person from the Compostelana WYD who now has the responsibility for organizing WYD Madrid. What has been and what will be your role?

It will be to help my superiors – Cardinal President Stanislaw Rylko and Bishop Secretary Josef Clemens – in the different areas of competence for which they are responsible. My experiences up until now will help me: for example, the fact that I have a direct experience of WYD will allow me to treat these themes more competently.

On this topic, there are those who say that these gatherings of young people are used only as an anonymous mass to draw more attention to the show…

Whoever is familiar with WYD knows that it is a stupendous occasion for evangelizing youth, a marvelous way for a personal encounter with Jesus in the presence of the Pope. So the real protagonist is Christ, not the show, nor the multitude of young people. It can’t be considered the “Catholic Woodstock;” a multi-cultural festival of Catholic young people which leaves no lasting trace when the lights go down. It is an ecclesial event with an enormous participation: in Manila in 1995, 5 million young people took part; in Rome, during the Jubilee of the year 2000, there were 2 million. And although it is an event which involves crowds, every single young person who participates, remains profoundly moved. WYD – if lived as a possibility to encounter Christ – can transform the lives of those who take part. Certainly, it requires a long journey of preparation, beginning with the message that the Pope writes every year to youth on the occasion of the Day celebrated in individual dioceses on Palm Sunday. There are many parishes, associations, ecclesial movements and youth groups that organize study days of the Pope’s message. But the most precious fruits are of a personal nature between God and young people, and it is logical that it should be so.

Previous Post

August 1, 2011

"Best God joke ever"?

Next Post

August 1, 2011 New York Catholic principal linked to white supremacist group -- UPDATED

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism Education education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution politics Politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized VATICAN Vatican vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does James say about faith without works?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Faith without works is dead. Faith is only for the righteous. Faith alone is enough. Works without faith is dead.

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »